Removable track and method of handling same



Aug. 13,1929. (3. E. TURNER REMOVABLE TRACK AND METHOD OF HANDLING SAME Filed May 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet av wmtoz 421 4 5". ZMWW imme/if b AM AV Av N WN Aug. 13, 1929; a. E. TURNER REMOVABLE'TRACK AND METHOD 0F HANDLING SAME Filed May 12. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awbemtoz fitter/mu Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES GEORGE TURNER, OF NEW LEXINGTON, 01-110.

REMOVABLE TRACK AhTD METHOD OF HANDLING SAME.

Application filed May 12,

This invention relates to traekage for large shovel machines, particularly those relating to mining and excavatingwhere it is desirable to move the machine at more or less frequent intervals.

Heretofore in the use of large shovels for the purposes mentioned above, it has been the usual practice to have a temporary loosely laid track of standard steel rail sections on heavy loosely laid wooden ties, and under large revolving shovels there are usually two such tracks, one on either side of the shovel. In order to change the location of the shovel, it has been necessary to handle and transport all these ties and rail sections and then to relay them, involving great expense, due to the number of men required to do the work. Furthermore, both ties and rails have been subject to considerable breakage and loss through wear and tear incident to such practises. So great has been the eX- pense and annoyance of such methods, that there has been attempted practice of dis pensing with the Wooden ties by using the largest sizes of steel rails, laid directly upon the ground surface. This last mentioned method has been tried with coal mining shovels where the rails are laid directly on the coal, but this has not proved satisfactory because the base of the standard steel rail would cut or sink into the coal and even if the surface was suhiciently hard to prevent this trouble, the surface was usually rough enough to prevent the base of the rail having the proper support, so that the rails were often broken, which entailed a heavy loss. Again, there was always danger of the rails catching against slight ledges of coal, which would result in the rails being overturned sidewise by the wheel flanges of the shovel, causing derailment.

To avoid all these troubles, and to develop a form of track that could easily be removed and replaced at new and different places, it has been necessary to devise a form of rail that could be used without ties and it has been desirable to use a method of handling the rails which would dispense with manual labor. Tn connection with these develop ments there has been devised an improved stop for holding the wheels of the shovels against accidental movement on the tracks.

An essential part of the invention is to employ cast sections preferably of manganese or other alloy steel instead of the stand- 1928. Serial No. 27?,278.

ard rolled rail sections and to shape and form these cast sections in a way to adapt them to the conditions of the ground surface, and to a method of handling that would dispense with the usual manual labor.

A main feature of this invention is in forming small lengths of cast sections of a T rail shape with a base much wider in size than the height, the length being such as to be readily handled by a carrier to be hereinafter described. By reason'of the change in dimensions of the cast sections, it has become desirable to form them with sockets at their respective end-s for receiving the ends of a steel coupler, and these sections have been reinforced at the web portions which have been perforated at a large number of points to adapt them for use with the carrier and to the stop device heretofore mentioned, as well as to the coupler for connecting the sections together.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the accompanying drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been provided as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like chars,- ters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:

Figure l is a plan view of a cast rail section, its adj accnt section bein shown broken away. Figure 2 is a side elevation of one section. Figure 3 is an end view. Figure iis a detail view of the clamp or stop applied to a rail section, while Figures 5 and 6 show a modification of a stop of an adjustable character. Figures 7, 8 and 9 are side, plan and end views respectively of the carrier.

Figure 10 is an end view of the track shown partly in section to better illustrate a method of maintaining the rails in their proper spaced relation.

It will be seen that the cast metal sections, while shaped like standard T rails, have marked. advantages for the intended use in that the width of thebase is more than twice the height of the rail. The standard rail is usually from 5 to 6 inches wide and 7 inches high, while the rail section shown here is about 6 inches high and substantially 15 inches wide at the base. It is also apparent that these cast metal sections are reduced in length as compared with the stand ard rail section, but by forming sockets at the ends of the sections, a plurality of sections can readily be coupled together so as to adapt them to the intended use. For one thing, the enlarged base and reduced length of section render the structure more suited to the rough surface of coal ground, each section having a firm support by reason of the enlarged base and yet by reason of the loose coupling the structure adapts itself to uneven surfaces avoiding danger of breakage due to one part of an extending rigid structure resting upon higher or lower ground than another part, and the coupling is of such character as to enable the structure to be used where curvature of track is required.

Referring to Figure 1, the cast metal rail section is marked 1 and there are shown nine holes extending through the web portion and this part of the web is re-inforced by the bosses 2. Adjacent to each opening there is formed on the upper surface of the base a ledge or lug 3. \Vhen the pin 4 (Figs. 1 and 4) is inserted within one of the bossed openings, the head of the pin will drop by gravity into a position such that the head will register with the ledge or lug 3 and thereby be held against accidental withdrawal until the head is raised above the top of said lug.

The sockets 5 in the ends of the sections are formed with angular interior walls (Figs. 1 and 3) and the outer and inner sides of each wall intersect at the point where the pin passes through the opening, thereby permitting a limited angular movement of the coupled sections without causin an undesirable shearing strain upon the pin. The coupling bar with perforated ends is of a shape and size to extend from one socket to the other, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, such that the two pins 4 will hold'the ends of said coupling bar securely fastened to each rail section, while permitting a limited amount oflateral movement.

The form of rail section lends itself to the use of a clamp or stop; for it is only necessary, as indicated in Fig. 4, in order to secure the stop '6 to a rail section that the proper bossed opening 2 be selected and the pin 4 inserted through that opening and the opening in the stop 6, allowing the head of the pin 4 to drop in front of the ledge or lug 3. The modified stop is shown with a finer adjustment by the use of a sliding wedge 7 which fits within the opening 8, the holes 9 on the end of the wedge (Fig. 5) permit the pin 10 to be placed in position to hold the wedge in adjusted position, so that after the wedge is driven to proper position to cause the stop to bear properly against the wheel of the shovel. the wedge will be sccurely held against releasing movement. Itis to be understood that in the modified structure the stop is formed in two parts and the part 1.1 is formed with a shank 12 which fits within the body of the shoe and this shank is slotted to register with the slot in the shoe proper so that by driving the wedge thru the shank part the shoe will be moved forwardly or rearwardly.

In order to keep the rails from spreading or converging it has been found advisable to tie them together by a convenient and readily removable tie rod or bridle. Figure 10 illustrates a method of so connecting the rails that inward or outward movement thereof is prevented, the tubing 25 serving as a brace to keep the rails the prone distance apart and the rod 26 and nuts 27 serving to hold the rails against the tubing.

A desirable form of sulky carrier is shown in Figs. 7, S and 9 which is a dmirably suited to the form of rail section shown herein; such that the section can readily be raised from the ground and be transported to some other place. This sulky comprises two wheels 13, the axle of which is A lever 15 is mounted on the axle and is capable of being oscillated with said axle as indicated in 7 and a chain 17 is secured to the lower portion of said lever 15 while the free end of said chain 17 is secured to a. bifurcated member 18 which straddles the ball of the rail and its ends are perforated to register with one of the openings 2. A pin 4 is then inserted through the openings. whereby the member 18 is secured to the rail section. An arm 19 is pivoted to lever 15, so that when the lever 15 is thrown into horizontal position to raise the rail section, the arm 19 having an opening 20 in its free end will assume a position such that a pin lcan be inserted through the openings J and 20 thereby giving the east section the requisite two point support upon the sulky carrier. The sulky can then be drawn to the place where the rail section is to be deposited.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invent-ion, I claim as new and desire to secure the fol-- lowing combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of United States:

1. As an article of manufacture a cast metal rail section of relatively small length and comparatively great width and reduced height, having a seriesot openings throughv the web, reinforced by bosses, and having sockets with inclined inner walls formed in the sockets, the said openings being spaced whereby two openings are capable of use for suspending the section above the ground.

2. As an article of manufacture a rail section of 'l rail shape, small in length having its base portion of a width substantially twice the height of the rail section, the web portion being formed with bossed openings and the end portions formed with sockets.

As an article of manufacture arail section of rail shape, small in length and 0t width materially greater than the height o1 said rail section having the web perforatedat intervals throughout its length with bossed openings.

4. The combination of short cast metal. rail sections of l shape having an extended base substantially greater than its height,

sockets formed in the ends of the sections and coupling bars adapted to be secured within said sockets.

5. In a structure of the character described cast metal. rail sections reduced in length having widened base portions, the bases being substantially twice the height of the rail section, ledges formed on the upper surface of the base, bosses formed on the web ol the rail and pins extending through the web at the points where the bosses are formed and. capable of being held against withdrawal movement by said ledges.

6. In astructure of the character described, short cast metal rail sections having wide bases of substantially twice the dimensions of the height oi same, sockets formed in the ends of the sections, the webs having bossed openings formed therein, an opening being located to extend through a socket, coupling pins fitting within said opening, coupling bars secured by said pins within the sockets and ledges formed on the base for holding the pins in coupling position.

7. The combination of track sections having short cast metal rail sections, enlarged base portions, web portions having bossed openings therein, coupling members secured by said bossed openings to adjacent rail sections with a wheel carrier having a two part lifting member, one part secured to one opening in said web portion and the other part secured to an adjacent opening.

8. in the structure o i' the character described the combination of a plurality of cast metal rail sections. enlarged base portions of a size to be supported directly on the ground, web portions having bossed openings therein, coupling members connecting adjacent rail sections, the ends thereof beingsecured to said bossed openings with a wheeled carrier having a litter perforated at one end to register with said bossed openings, an additional perforated member on said carrier adapted to register with another of said bossed openings.

9,. The combination of cast metal rail sections having bases substantially wider than the height of the rails, perforated web portions, sockets formed in the ends of the rail sections, the outer and inner sides of the interior walls of said sockets being inclined one to the other, the intersecting point of said sides being adjacent a perforation of said web, a coupling bar and a pin extending through said perforated opening to secure the end of said coupling bar within said socket.

10. The combination of cast metal rail sections having bases substantially wider than the height oi? the rail, ledges formed on said bases, web portions having a plurality of openings, sockets in said sections having interior walls formed by outer and inner sides inclined at an angle, the intersecting point of said sides being adjacent an opening of said web. a coupling bar, a

pin extending through said opening to secure the coupling to the web, the end of the pin registering with one of said ledges, a stop having a perforated portion and an ad ditional pin extending through said perforated portion and another one of said first mentioned openings.

11. A transportable rail section of l' rail shape small in length and comprising a base of comparatively great width relative to the height of same, the web being perforated with a plurality 0t openings, with a wheel carrier having suspension points spaced apart substantially one half the length of the rail section and means connecting said suspension points to a plurality of said openlugs.

12'. The combination of a transportable rail section, small in length and of l shape, comprising a base portion 01 relatively great width in comparison with the height of the section and intermediate web portions perforated with openings, the base being formed with projecting ledges, with a wheeled carrier having a two part supporting device, the supports being spaced apart a distance equal substantially to one half the length of the section, pins insertable through said openings and supports, the heads of the pins being adapted to be held against movement by the ledges.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

GEORGE E. TURNER. 

